From The Peopling of New York City

Interview Transcript

I interviewed a Jackson Heights resident (Ami Shah) who lives on 41st Avenue and 73rd Street and frequently lingers around the neighborhood. She was able to give me an outside perspective on all three religions of interest since she does not identify with any of the three religions (Christianity, Islam and Hinduism).

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Hi, I am doing a project for Hunter College, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

Ami Shah: Yea I guess.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: What’s your name?

Ami Shah: Ami Shah.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: How old are you?

Ami Shah: 19.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: How long have you been living in the Jackson Heights neighborhood?

Ami Shah: I been here since I was 8…so that’s 11 years.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Where do you usually hang out in Jackson Heights?

Ami Shah: I usually hang out by the movie theater or at the park on 79 Street.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Do you have other friends from this neighborhood?

Ami Shah: Yea my friend, Mimi. She’s been living here longer than I have.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Where is she from?

Ami Shah: China.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Does that affect your relationship?

Ami Shah: No, I don’t care about that stuff.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Do you have any major enemies in your neighborhood?

Ami Shah: Not really. I don’t think that people should have enemies…at least not based on race or whatever.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Where is your family from?

Ami Shah: We’re from India.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: What religion do you practice?

Ami Shah: My family is Hindu but I choose not to label myself.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: What do you believe in?

Ami Shah: I don’t practice any of the religious rituals just the cultural part with my family like parties and weddings.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: How do you feel about Muslims, Christians and Hindus in Jackson Heights?

Ami Shah: People are all the same. I can honestly say I pretty much get along with people of all religions.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Do you maintain contact with these people?

Ami Shah: I have friends from all over the world and of every religion you can imagine.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Does that change anything?

Ami Shah: Religion, race, color, ethnicity, culture….all that stuff doesn’t matter to me.

Yasmin Zakiniaeiz: Do you like living in such a diverse community?

Ami Shah: I love living in Jackson Heights…it’s mixed with people from everywhere.

--Yzakiniaeiz 20:42, 10 May 2009 (UTC)